diff --git a/setup.py b/setup.py
index fa396ab50..6ca46c636 100644
--- a/setup.py
+++ b/setup.py
@@ -533,13 +533,6 @@ class NoopExecutionEngine(ExecutionEngine):
                                   payload_attributes: Optional[PayloadAttributes]) -> None:
         pass
 
-    def prepare_payload(self: ExecutionEngine,
-                        parent_hash: Hash32,
-                        timestamp: uint64,
-                        random: Bytes32,
-                        feeRecipient: ExecutionAddress) -> PayloadId:
-        raise NotImplementedError("no default block production")
-
     def get_payload(self: ExecutionEngine, payload_id: PayloadId) -> ExecutionPayload:
         raise NotImplementedError("no default block production")
 
diff --git a/specs/merge/validator.md b/specs/merge/validator.md
index cbca6eeda..379687dc4 100644
--- a/specs/merge/validator.md
+++ b/specs/merge/validator.md
@@ -100,7 +100,7 @@ avoid requiring simple serialize hashing capabilities in the Execution Layer.
 
 ### `ExecutionEngine`
 
-*Note*: `prepare_payload` and `get_payload` functions are added to the `ExecutionEngine` protocol for use as a validator.
+*Note*: `get_payload` function is added to the `ExecutionEngine` protocol for use as a validator.
 
 The body of each of these functions is implementation dependent.
 The Engine API may be used to implement them with an external execution engine.